BREAKING: Anti-trafficking bill passes Congress!

Today, after more than two years of countless phone calls, frustrating roadblocks, and non-stop prayer, your voices rang through the halls of Congress. The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act passed through the House of Representatives -- only a few weeks after the same provision passed through the Senate!

Now, it goes to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law.

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A video thank you from me:

This law is the centerpiece of all U.S. policies and programs combating human trafficking. Originally passed in 2000, the legislation and the laws and programs it created have made the United States a global leader in the fight against modern-day slavery.

However, due to political bickering, this law expired in September 2011. Today, members of Congress came together to ensure that the fight against injustice would begin anew.

The renewed legislation makes some important gains for combating human trafficking around the world -- and here at home. Some of the new aspects of the bill include: allowing survivors of trafficking in the United States better access to services; strengthening law enforcement efforts to crack down on human traffickers here in the United States and around the world; and allowing the United States to form strategic partnerships with governments trying to crack down on trafficking in their own country.

Words cannot properly express the critical role that advocates like you have played in these efforts. When the voices of citizens got loud, things started to change and the bill started to move. It may have taken longer than we wanted, but the fight against modern-day slavery is stronger for it. Advocates persevered and never backed down. They spoke truth into power, and today, power gave the voices of the people a big nod of respect!

Seeking justice takes time. It takes patience. The payoff is not always as fast as we want it to be.

But when God breaks through, amazing things happen. World Vision will continue to work to make sure that this law is properly implemented and that it has the impact it is capable of having.

There is always more work to be done. Children are still enslaved -- forced to work or sell their bodies to those who perpetrate evil. But today, advocates and lawmakers stood together to take a stand against this evil. And we will continue to do so.

Stay tuned -- there is more justice to come.

Call your members of Congress and thank them for passing the TVPRA. By expressing your appreciation as a constituent, you'll show them that you take notice when they support just policies -- setting the stage for them to do the same in the future.

Millions of children all around the world are still vulnerable to all different kinds of exploitation -- like forced labor, sex trafficking, forced military recruitment, and more.

You can make a one-time donation to help provide safety for a formerly exploited child. Your gift will help prevent further abuse and restore physical, emotional, and spiritual health to those who have faced terrible experiences.

Comments

I've been a World Vision member for 15 years and while traveling extensively in countries where young girls and boys are used as sexual objects.
As a law enforce officer during the 1970-90s I arrested individuals who used the young for their
Advantage. 40 years later and the problem still exists! What are you going to